EFFECT OF HEMIN ON THE ENTEROTOXIN PRODUCTION OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI

When Campylobacter jejuni was exposed to iron compounds, alterations i n enterotoxin production were monitored by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. By ELISA, treatment with 10 mu M haemin increased the ganglioside binding activity of the toxin in the extracellular fraction but not in the intracellular fraction. By Weste rn blotting, a 68 kD subunit of the enterotoxin was observed to increa se in concentration. The results suggest that haemin may have a positi ve regulation effect on enterotoxin maturation when released from bact erial cells.